Farm-gate.



C. E. CARDWELL.

FARM GATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30. I913. h1 %4k Patented; Apr. 13, 1915.

ATTORNEY THE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON. D. c.

lltll UNlTlH; earns iearnnrr CHARLES E. OARDWELL, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO B. E. LEE

I JENKINS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

FARM-GATE.

Application filed December 30, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES E. CARD- WELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Farm-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in farm gates and has particular reference to that type of such devices known as tumbler gates.

As its principal object, this invention aims to provide a farm gate of the type above set forth which may be cheaply manufactured, will be durable and eflicient in its action, and may be readily assembled.

A further object is to provide a gate in which the manipulation of the lifting lever simultaneously unlocks the gate and swings it into open position.

A further object is to construct the gate in such manner that when it is returned to closed position, it will be automatically locked against movement until the lifting lever is again properly manipulated.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specifications, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

l Vith reference to the drawings, wherein 1 have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the gate in closed position. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, showing one of the hinges on which the gate operates. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, showing the gate latch. Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the cross beam and the posts ex tending upwardly from the ends thereof.

Proceeding now to the description of the drawings, the numeral 1 designates as an entirety the gate proper, which includes the upper and lower longitudinal frame members 2 and 3, end frame members 4 and 5, and vertical brace 6. These frame members are preferably formed of metal and are illustrated in Fig. 1. The frame may be covered with wire, designated by the letter Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915. Serial No. 809,452.

A. In this connection it is, of course, to be understood that the frame members may be constructed of any suitable material, such as wood or lengths of angle iron, and the wire may be of the ordinary fence wire type, of chicken screen wire, or any other material of a similar and suitable nature.

The frame is designed to be fixed on an axle 7, the free terminals of which are pivoted in hearings in the rearwardly extending bearing members 7, 7 fixed to the gate posts 8 and 9, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The frame of the gate is fixed to the axle 7 through the medium of a coupling joint 10, interposed in the length of the member 5, and disposed adjacent the lower terminal thereof.

A pair of stay cables or iron rods 12 and 13 connect the lower terminal of the member 6 with the axle 7, as illustrated in Fig. 2, for the obvious purpose of bracing the structure. A substantially semi-circular weight bar 14, which may be formed of iron or any other similar material, is carried by the member 5, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 1. This member 1a operates to balance the gate and to relieve the axle 7 of undue strain when the gate is swung into upright position, as will be hereinafter described.

As a means for operating the gate in swinging it on the axle 7, this invention employs a pair of lift levers 15 and 16, pivotally mounted at the upper ends of posts 8 and 9, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 2. The posts 8 and 9 are arranged on each side of the gate, and are connected adjacent their lower terminal by a cross beam 17 which is preferably arranged with its upper face flush with the ground. The terminals of the short arms 18 and 19 of the lift levers are connected by lifting cables 20 and 21, to a lift bar 22. The lift bar is pivoted at one terminal, as at 23, to the member 5, while the other terminal of the member 22 is pivotally connected, as at 24, to a latch bar 25. vThe free end of the latch bar 25 is projected through a slot 26 in the frame member 1, as indicated in Fig. 4. The member 25 operates in a stirrup 27 fixed to the member 6 and approximately midway thereof. As a means for normally holding the terminal of the latch bar 25 at the lower end of the stirrup 27, this invention employs a helical spring 28, secured at one terminal to the lift bar 22 and near the central point thereof, and secured at its other terminal to the lower longitudinal frame member 3, as at 29.

The frame member 4 of the gate is adapted to be disposed adjacent the post30 when the gate is closed, which is further provided on its side facing the frame member 4 with a slot 31, the upper portion of which has an upright pitch, as illustrated in Fig. 1, for a purpose to be hereinafter disclosed.

The actual construction of the gate being thus disclosed, it now remains to describe the operation involved when the gate is swung from normal closed position into upright position. Briefly, it is as follows: The operator grasps the cable 32 and exerts a downward pull on the lift lever 16. The swinging movement of this lever is communicated. to the lift bar 22 by the cable 21. It will be apparent that as the lift bar is swung upwardly on its pivotal point 23,.

that the latch bar will be withdrawn from engagement with the slot 81 in the post 30. As the short arm 19 and the lever continues to move upwardly, the pull exerted on the lift bar 22 acts to lift the gate and swing it upwardly on its axle 7. When the gate has reached an upright position, the weight bar 14 is disposed in an alined slot 32 in the cross beam 17, thus relieving the axle 7 of the majority of the strain. It will be further observed that when the gate is in an upright position it will be over-balanced, so as to prevent its accidental return until the lever 15 has been manipulated to return the gate to its normal closed position.

It will be noted that when the lever 15 has been manipulated to return. the gate to closed position, that the spring 28 will tend to draw the member 25 down into the lower portion of the stirrup 27, thus disposing the free terminal of the latch bar in the slot 31.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is

the most efficient and practical; yet, realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction,

proportion, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. A device of the character described consisting of a cross beam having a centrally located transverse slot in the upper side thereof, two posts, upstanding from said cross beam, one at each end, a bearing car ried by each post, a gate, an axle upon which the gate is fixed at one end, the terminals of said axle being pivoted in said bearings and said axle being arranged below the longitudinal center of the gate, a semicircular weight bar connected to and carried by the pivoted end of said gate and alined above said slot and resting therein when the gate is open, and a latch mechanism for securing the gate in a close position.

2. A device of the character described consisting of a cross beam, two posts upstanding from said cross beam, one at each end, a bearing carried by each post, a gate, an axle upon which the gate is fixed at one end, the terminals of said axle being pivoted in said bearings and said axle being arranged below the longitudinal center of the gate, a weight bar connected to and carried by the pivoted end of said gate and resting against the cross beam when the gate is open, a stationary post alined with the gate, when the gate is closed, and a latch mechanism engaging with the post when the gate is in closed position and securing said gate closed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES CARDVELL.

Witnesses C. B. GLovnR, MAY MONTGOMERY.

. Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, I). 0'. 

